U.S. Gamers Tighten Their Wallets as Video Game Sales Slide in 2025
Hey, gaming fans! It’s looking like a rough patch for the U.S. video game scene right now. The numbers are in, and they’re not pretty—total spending on games, gear, and extras is down 11% year-to-date compared to 2024. February alone took a 6% hit compared to last year, clocking in at $4.5 billion, according to the latest Circana report. That brings 2025’s running total to $9.0 billion so far—a steep drop from where we were this time last year. What’s going on? Let’s unpack this slump and spotlight the bright spots that are keeping things interesting.
Hardware and Content Take a Hit, But Some Stars Shine
Digging into the details, video game content—think games and DLC—slipped 4% from last February, landing at $4.0 billion. Non-mobile subscriptions actually grew a solid 9%, but it wasn’t enough to counter the declines elsewhere: mobile spending dipped 4%, while console full games and add-ons cratered 11%, and PC/cloud/non-console VR fell 4%. Hardware’s the real sore spot, plunging 25% to $256 million—the weakest February haul since 2020. Still, PlayStation 5 held its crown as the top-selling platform in both units and dollars, proving it’s got some serious staying power.
Amid the gloom, a few titles are lighting up the charts. Monster Hunter: Wilds roared in as February’s bestseller and snagged the title of 2025’s top dog so far—pretty impressive for a fresh release. Hot on its heels are Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, Sid Meier’s Civilization VII, and PGA Tour 2K25, all newbies that cracked the top ranks. Over on mobile, Sensor Tower’s got the scoop: Monopoly Go! still rules the roost, but Last War: Survival just elbowed past Roblox for a podium spot. “It’s a big moment for Last War,” says Samuel Aune from Sensor Tower. “And check this—Pokémon TCG Pocket and Pokémon GO are both in the top ten, a rare double-play for the same franchise with different publishers. That’s wild!”
What’s Next for the Industry?
So, what’s the vibe here? The industry’s feeling the pinch—hardware’s down big, and content’s struggling to keep pace with last year’s highs. Shoaib, your readers at cutitoy.com might be wondering if this is a blip or a trend. Circana’s got more details at circana.com if you want the full breakdown, but one thing’s clear: even in a downturn, standout games like Monster Hunter: Wilds and mobile juggernauts like Monopoly Go! are proving there’s still plenty of life in the gaming world. Are you picking up any of these hits, or are you waiting out the slump? Let’s hear your take—where do you see this rollercoaster heading?
